Steve Madden designs shoes. My wife is a fan. I thought he just did women’s shoes, but apparently he does shoes for guys. I’m not sure what the back story is, but I’m going to go out on what I assume is a very, very strong limb and guess that the “Skater shoes line is designed to be fashion over function. I guess it’s possible he did some research, maybe had the guy in the photo doing some product testing. Possible, but not likely.
– Thanks to Sarib for the tip.


28 comments
Shane
Yup, that’s the band I was thinking of. Thanks!!! Being in Pittsburgh and into punk even way back then, I never ran accross this name. (Maybe I did, and just ignored it. I used to hate ska influenced music) Anyway, turns out I know someone from the band too ha ha small world. I found their shit on Amazon for a penny. I have the CD with Mildew on it, it’s Potty Karate
Bunjie Jambo
I wore my dark blue Wranglers…
I am a badass
Best angler, I’m a badass
Best angler…
(As performed live at FDR while standing on his head, in the video Skatopia: The Punisher. Cuz that’s his uniform, standing on his head.)
Shane
Bunjie Jambo, who sings that song you quoted? My friend and I have been trying to figure it out. We got a copy of the artist’s cd on mp3 but it does not say who it is. It’s driving us fuck’n crazy.
Not actually Bunjie Jambo
Bunjie Jambo IS who sings that song I quoted. Does the album (ep?) you downloaded have “Mildew” on it as well? (Not sure that’s the actual name of the Bunjie Jambo song I’m thinking of, but that’s another good one.) Anyway, they perform “Mildew”? live (though the sound may be synched, don’t know) at Skatopia in Charnosky and Nichols’ (or whatever their names are) video “Skatopia: The Punisher”. Which is definitely worth having, in part because of Bunji Jambo, even though its a decade or more old.
kevin
i remember when you bought a pair of vans it proudly said on the box.
made in u.s.a.
how times have changed
Prickly Pete
If Madden had a sense of humor he’d have a swoosh on the side of these that resembled a stilleto heeled lady’s shoe. That would go with the tight pant thing and complete the transvestite look at least from the white belt down.
In the meantime I’ll keep buying my skater-owned Vans (but is it really?) at the local non-skater-owned Ross. Somehow that’s less conflicting to me that spending $70 for Vans at the skate shop. Just cause I skate doesn’t mean I’m not livin’ in the current economy.
kilwag
Vans is owned by the same corporation that owns Lee jeans and Wrangler…
Fitz
Reason enough for me to rock ’em.
bailgun
vans is skater-owned? since when has steve van doren or vanity fair been skateboarders? i love all the core dudes and their vans….. steve van d doesn’t skate, never has.
egbert
No they’re not. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vf_corporation
Probably the closest thing you can come to skater owned footwear is Es’, Emerica, Etnies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_Technology Pierre probably still skates here and there. Just saying.
egbert
Oh, and Fallen for sure…JT definitely skates.
Neil
Shoes don’t actually look that bad and as someone said, they’d probably wear them if they had a Vans label attached!
Principle of it is just f**ked though and ad is just oh so queer
ssk
just wait till they start selling them with ollie holes already in place.
bailgun
why wait?
http://www.youwillsoon.com/2010/03/for-skatebors-use-only.html
and they’re only $475.00!!!
WHAT A BARGIAN
ssk
I need to start a fashion label.
fester combs
fuk that, im gonna start carrying my board crucifix style!
kevin
what a joke , poser skate wear.
what gay add ta boot
Treacherous L. Sweetness
HA! Just in time for the Brooklyn banks being shut down. Fuck you. Fuck you very much.
Fitz
What happened to Brooklyn Banks? Welsh Pete got to skate there, and he’s mentioned they are no more, though he didn’t know why, or I didn’t ask.
Was it because of skaters, or was it just another Starbucks popping up?
Sorry in advance if this old news. I tend to try and ignore as much about skating as I can. The culture really pisses me off. Of course I do check in to SNA for my daily dose of douchebaggery, though these guys aren’t exactly cutting edge, thank god…
Soleless
As I understand it, the NY Dept. of Transportation is using the banks as an equipment yard for a nearby bridge replacement and it will be several years before they are accessible again. It is a terrible shame. Maybe my kids will be able to skate there someday, but probably not this skate geezer…
Fitz
Those look a lot like most other skate-shoes. If they didn’t say Steve Madden on them, any one of us might be rocking them. Goes back to the whole uniform thing you guys love discussing with me, which needless to say, we’re all victims of… I’m wearing Vans and Dickies right now.
I’d say skateboarders are among the most fashion concious goups. Knowing that, people like Madden are going to try and grab their piece of pie. However, it’s lame that another non-skater owned company is trying to cash in on the culture.
Guessing I won’t see any popping up at the park anytime soon.
kilwag
I suppose it’s entirely possible these are good shoes to skate in. I happen to like the Vans feel, and I like the fact that you can usually find a pair at Ross for $25 or so.
I think it’s lame to have a “skater” line of shoes and note even have any sideways involvement or attachment to skateboarding. It’s not like the Vans waffle sole was designed fro skateboarding, it’s just a happy accident. So again, it’s possible these are ok. Some of them are goofy looking.
kilwag
I’m having a hard time articulating it. This is primarily a fashion line for women. It’s weak. My wife tells me he’s been sued by multiple entities for allegedly copying designs.
jesus crust
ugh! The end is nigh!
Thor
I just sent them my sponsor me video.
egbert
They have a shoe called “VOX”. Sue, sue, sue…!
El Capitan
They definitely did their research at some northeast skateparks …
[x] shirtless with winter cap
[x] coping lurker
[x] ghey tube socks
BrockEs
The shirtless flex pose is queerific!